Health Briefs: April 10

Published: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at 7:46 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at 7:46 a.m.

Time to apply for summer volunteer slots

Pardee Hospital is accepting applications for the 2013 Junior Volunteer Summer Program. The junior volunteers provide an important service to the individuals they serve and to the community as a whole.

In order to participate in the Junior Volunteer Summer Program, potential volunteers must be at least 14 years of age by June 1. Applicants are also required to write a brief essay explaining why they would like to participate in the program and what their interests and future goals are.

Completed applications and documents must be turned in by May 6. Orientation will begin on June 17, and junior volunteers will receive a tuberculin skin test that is offered for free by Pardee Hospital.

Visit the “About Us” section of www.pardee hospital.org and click on “Volunteer Opportunities” to find the application form for the program. For more information, call Karla Reese at 828-696-4240.

ASHEVILLE

Dr. Buie to be Western Highlands director

Western Highlands Network at 356 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, has appointed a new medical director, Dr. Stephen Buie.

Buie is a North Carolina native who did his undergraduate work at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill on a Morehead scholarship.

He earned his medical degree at the UNC School of Medicine in 1981. He completed a residency in internal medicine at a Columbia University training hospital in New York and a psychiatry residency at Cornell Medical College, also in New York.

He has worked at numerous facilities in the Asheville area, including the former Highland Hospital, Mission St. Joseph’s Hospital and Park Ridge Health. He is a founder of The Pisgah Institute for Psychotherapy and Education, where he provides medication management for all psychiatric conditions.

Buie is on the clinical faculty at UNC School of Medicine and is the psychiatry clerkship director for the Asheville campus. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, past president of the North Carolina Psychiatric Association and currently a representative to the American Psychiatric Association Assembly.

Buie will be taking the place of Dr. Louis Stein, who has announced his retirement as medical director and senior clinical staff after serving the Western Highlands Network for 10 years. A transfer of duties will take place in July.

Oral, head, neck cancer screenings April 17

Pardee Hospital will offer free screenings for oral, head and neck cancer from 2-5 p.m. April 17 at the Pardee Rehab & Wellness Center at 212 B Thompson St., Hendersonville.

All adults should consider having an oral cancer screening. It is estimated that more than 53,000 Americans will develop cancer of the head or neck in 2013. This includes tumors that can appear in or around the throat, nose, sinuses, mouth and larynx. There has been a rise in cases of oropharyngeal (mouth and throat) cancer in young adults, and adults who use tobacco and alcohol regularly are at particular risk. “It is very important to catch these cancers early,” says Dr. W. Mark McCollough, a radiation oncologist at Pardee. “The signs and symptoms of oral cancer often go unrecognized, but early detection can facilitate less aggressive treatment and result in a higher cure rate.”

The screenings will be performed by Pardee physicians specializing in otolaryngology, including Drs. John Pickens, Michael Neuenschwander and Michael Stalford. These experienced doctors will perform a brief exam of the mouth and throat to look for evidence of any abnormalities.

Appointments are required. To make an appointment, call 866-790-9355.

For more information on oral, head or neck cancer, visit www.headandneck. org.

Hike to Health at Bearwallow on April 20

Pardee Hospital, in partnership with the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy, will host the Hike to Health at 9 a.m. April 20 at Bearwallow Mountain in Henderson County.

Hike to Health focuses on community wellness by bringing people together from Henderson County and the surrounding communities to promote healthy and active lifestyles. This will be Pardee’s fifth Hike to Health outdoor community event.

Bearwallow Mountain straddles the Eastern Continental Divide and towers above the Hickory Nut Gorge, Chimney Rock and Lake Lure areas. The Bearwallow Mountain Trail is a 2-mile moderate hike with some obstacles within the trail. The summit provides extensive views of Mount Mitchell, Mount Pisgah and the Balsams.

Hikers should arrive at 8:30 a.m. to sign in. Hike to Health is free to the public, and registration is now open. Call 866-790-9355 to register.

Compiled from staff reports

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